Random thoughts from

....a month or so ago.

-I was told today I have high expectations. I just feel like most things in life fit into two categories. You either meet the standard or you don't.

-I am a full supporter of facial hair or scruffiness on men. I'm also a supporter of men rocking the beard. However...just sprouting mustaches are the worst. The only person I know who can pull off the 'stache is my dad. Maybe I'm biased.

-Why are there such random items strewn around my house...lice detangler, bottles of opened wine on the mantle, a set of sharpies in the bathroom, foam rollers in the living room, random things in wrong spots. Everything has fallen apart with this project.

-It's 12:40 on Tuesday night/Monday morning and I am finished with all edits. (Revision. It's Wednesday at 3 and I am about to hand over the whole project. What a great feeling to be done. No more weekends of coffee shops. No more nights of reading units until I fall asleep. No more excuse to be antisocial...ekkk :))

-I miss having my own class of kiddos. Everyone asks am I glad I left the classroom?! Most days yes but no matter what day it is when I am a part of a kid making a break through or meeting a goal I REALLY miss the classroom.

-Life lesson 4754256755 leaders who lead with force get compliance NOT what they are actually looking for.

smorgasborg

I've been trying to find time to actually write a "January-bring it 2013" post where I am both reflective and optimistic, but its the last day of January and I have yet to find the time.

I'm hopeful February will be the month for that post, but until then...

we went out to Emeril's new restaurant, E2 for the Queens City Feast

delicious. you should try it. 

my life has been utterly consumed by this freelance project

no matter how time consuming...I have enjoyed every minute of it

now for a little story.
one day I came home from work and smelled the absolute worst smell I have ever smelled. I couldn't figure it out...T and I searched everywhere. finally, I called in the big guns and C came to the rescue. what you don't see is the hot pink bandana and hot pink with zebra ruffled rubber gloves C wore (out of necessity of course). the culprit was a huge possum and rodent retrieval is definitely not in C's job description, but he was "happy" to help and had two very thankful women on his hands.

as soon as that nasty animal was gone and C. left, I packed up and headed to the wild, wonderful, west virginia to see my taylor girls. we had a weekend full of shopping, eating, and relaxing. i'm lucky enough to have friends that are truly family and even more fortunate that I got to spend three whole days with them.

I cut bangs.  This is what happens when you get bored, it's cold outside, and you are going cross-eyed reading TC Units of Study

it is hard to get a good picture and smile all at the same time

My good friend was recognized as being the best teacher ever at the Bobcats game with all of HF and lots of the kiddos.  It made for a fun night...

we went out to celebrate leah's birthday. we love plaza midhood. 

and of course I would be remiss if I didn't show you a cute kid picture

this little angel got to spend some time in my office and this my friend is a kindergarten reader at his finest.  I love the brand new readers and especially the Worm series.

for all you moms or educators out there, they are the newest and best books for beginning readers. they come in packs of four.  they have exciting characters and predictable patterns with a surprise-twist ending...you will not regret your 5.99!

money back. guarantee. 

2012 Goal Review

2012 Goals in Review

(Original Goal)  (a month in update) (a year later)

More tea to kick/cut back my coffee addiction  so far only a teensy cup in the afternoon hours AND no creamer just sweet n low. a far cry from my 32 oz at 6am. this didn't last long. i'm back in full force with the crazy big coffee cup. HOWEVER I don't use nearly as much cream and sweet n low as I used to.  One step closer to drinking it black. 

Read the news everyday hanging in there. it feels good to be informed. give or take I read it something everyday. lately I have not wanted to read or see the stories so I purposefully avoided tv and facebook. 

Graduate with my masters classes don't start for a few more weeks, but my really expensive books are starting to pour in.  Only 3 more classes and then I can officially be a school administrator or a heavily indebted teacher. Graduated in May! No more grad school work. No more lame weekends spent doing projects or an excuse to get out of being social. 

Do some form of athletic event/race maybe the monument ave 10k? maybe something else? did the jingle bell 5k and grey matters 5k...do they count? races just are not things I look forward to, but ironically after I finish I want to do more. 

Pursue opportunities that will want my new credentials:) the world is my limit. seriously. I had a million interviews in a few different cities and landed a few possibilities, but decided on a new job in CMS that started in July.  For the most part, I get to learn all about implementing TCRWP and making important literacy shifts in our district and make lots of administrator decisions without the title/responsibilities/pay of a principal.  I am 12 months and was unsure as to how I would adjust to not being on the year-round teaching calendar, but I am really enjoying working all the time.  I have lots of projects to do and it is exciting work which is probably why there have been no complaints about working through fall break or over the Christmas holiday. 

Travel to lots of places vague I know but so far Philly, Jackson Hole, and Spain are in the works  Jackson Hole. Check. Philly. Check. Spain was postponed, but I will be going to NYC for 2 weeks for work in February.  I'll stop by Littly Italy and Chinatown to satisfy my international travel bug.  

Refinance the house being a grown up is tough...way to raise the city taxes Charlotte-Mecklenburg now my payment is quite high. No re-fi yet. Still paying it down one payment at a time so I can qualify for a conventional loan soon.  

Paint the dining room it is narrowed down to 2 colors-come vote. they are taped to my wall. hired painters. best. decision. ever. happy I picked the darker color. 

Sand and paint the trim around the house this one I could give or take...we will see. bought the paint. need a sander and another set of willing hands. 

read more books on my kindle i've read a ton of books. mostly for work. but a few for fun. 

be a more gracious person. i would love to say i have really seen a difference in myself or even come close to mastering this, but this has been an interesting year and i am not sure i would describe my attitude as one of grace. i'd probably go with there have been shining moments where i have been gracious.  i'm thinking this needs to carry over to 2013. maybe i should change this and narrow the definition to my weaker area to show more mercy.  

Thanksgiving

the weekend festivities consisted of a lot of...

this

and lounging around on the patio/frying goodness

and lots of quality time with family that drove from far and wide to spend the week with us

and time with the brother

(thankful for them)

and lots of quality time with the sweet couple  

(happy wedding shower)

and of course sweet cousin girl time

this little doll I couldn't get enough of

and lots of time visiting historical places...

(of course lyd looks just like jessica in this picture)

(clearly we needed out of the civil war museum)

and some more touring of RIC

and driving this one around

and what Slagle family event would be complete without making puffs

(the ultra secret family recipe that is a lot like beignets that I am about to share below in picture form )

and to conclude the weekend festivities here is Lydia and Spirit (the most perfect dog there ever was)

Happy Thanksgiving!

November...you went by so fast.

I can't believe it is December or even remotely close to Christmas. Here is a phone dump of the events from November leading up to T-giving. 

The month started out with my favorite babies 1st birthday party.  My friend, Devan, who writes this great blog is the mama of these sweet babies. 

and they turned 1 at the end of October. 

charleigh grace and her smash cake.

the cutest family on the planet.

and logan addison and her smash cake. 

halloween at the nc music factory. we were ultra creative and dressed up as party animals.  

 my zebra tights kept falling down so it is ok if you didn't know I was a zebra

This lovely house has had a few problems over the last couple of months. I guess that is the life of a homeowner, but bats and mice have no place here.  we trapped those suckers and then got the pest people here to get rid of them (or just gus gus)

the veterans day holiday was celebrated at the panthers game and celebrate we did

bell, michelle, corey, and I at the tailgate 

thank you for the tickets mich!

bojangles. golden monkey. corn hole. great friends. 

make for a very interesting day. 

duckworths. here weeeeeee come.

stay tuned. thanksgiving and december photo dump up next. 

There are so many reasons I love working in education. You will see why at about the 5:22 mark. 

the 28th birthday.

birthdays have always been something my family has over celebrated.  

my extended family is pretty small and so my parents (mom) typically went all out. 

we are talking about pony rides through the neighborhood.

and

buried treasure in our yard and pirate treasure hunts (obviously for my ML)

we. love. birthdays. 

even more evidence:

(my freshman year of college I believe she FLEW with ML and I's traditional bday cake up to Taylor)

really it ultimately boils down to birthdays mean spending time with the people that you love

this year on my 28th birthday...I got to spend it with some of my favorite people.  

I woke up to decorations and remembered again how great my roommate is.

We went to Noda Brewery 

aren't they amazing. 

even hot neighbor nate came. 

not pictured. michelle's hot mason. 

the party planners. above and below. absolutely the best. 

sporting the GA colors.  

cabo/growlers/solstice.

and what better way to celebrate the actual day then by eating Tam's amazing feast with Ash and Michael.  

my family made it unforgettable. 

my mom's sweet words. 

my dad singing his heart out on my voicemail. 

the best package ever. 

my brother and new will be sister in law being so thoughtful. 

friends near and far made me feel so loved. i am so fortunate to have great friends. 

i am a lucky girl. 

who's birthday is next? i'm can't wait to celebrate you.